Suspect in ‘88 killing released

A 67-year-old Albemarle man charged in connection with a 20-year-old slaying case is out of jail on bond.

Alvin Lee “Butch” Morris appeared Wednesday in court, where he was granted a $50,000 property-secured bond, said defense attorney Dana Slater. Morris previously was denied bond last month, but Slater said there wasn’t time to prepare for a proper bond hearing so soon after his arrest.

Morris was charged last month with first-degree murder, robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. On June 20, 1988, an employee of the Southwind Grocery store on Route 20 found 38-year-old Roger L. Shifflett had been shot multiple times inside the store. Shifflett owned the store with his wife Barbara, who later married Morris and raised some of Shifflett’s children together.

Earl Shifflett, Roger Shifflett’s brother, said he was unimpressed with the bond, which Slater said was secured with Morris’s mother’s property.

“I think the bond was cheap,” Earl Shifflett said. “I think this should have been on trial 20 years ago. But soon justice is going to be served.”

When asked to comment on her client’s charges, Slater acknowledged that they are very serious.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, and so does the prosecutor,” Slater said.

Slater is Morris’s second attorney in the case. He appeared in court last month with attorney Francis McQ Lawrence, but Lawrence said at the time that Morris might hire someone else. Prior to being retained, Slater said she informed Morris that she was an Albemarle police officer when Roger Shifflett was killed. However, Slater was uninvolved with the investigation.

Morris did not immediately return a call made to his home Wednesday.

According to Lawrence, Morris has lived his entire life in the Charlottesville area, working for Safeway, in the landscaping business and as a contract U.S. Postal Service driver. He and his wife and mother attend the Mechanicsville Baptist Church regularly.

Don Reid, interim pastor at the church, said late last month that Morris and his family are loved by the congregation. Morris also has done volunteer work to build an addition on the church.

“I have come and do consider Mr. Morris to be a friend,” Reid said. “We care very deeply for him and are praying for him through this.”

Morris is scheduled to appear again in Albemarle General District Court next week for a preliminary hearing.